Paro, 2250 metres above sea level, is for most tourists the startlingly beautiful introduction to Bhutan. It occupies the largest valley in the mountain kingdom and thus is the only viable location for an airport in the country. The valley that Paro occupies is lush, fertile and littered with inspirational dzongs that are architecturally so perfect that dzongs around the kingdom are modelled after them.

Some of the most important sites of Bhutan are located in and around Paro. The Paro Dzong and the Taktsang Dzong are only two of the most significant of these.

The Paro Dzong dates back to 1646 but damages incurred every now and then, sometimes due to earthquakes, at others due to fires, have meant that it’s undergone quite a few repairs. Which may be why it is in such good shape today. The Paro Dzong is one of the most perfect renditions of Bhutanese architectural style. Its watchtower is now the National Museum of Bhutan. On display are such treasures like the Great Thangka and other ancient works of religious art. The Great Thangka is removed from the museum and displayed in the dzong for a few hours everyday during the Paro tsechu in March.

The Taktsang Lhakhang or Tiger’s Nest Monastery is a good example of how far spiritual quest can take man’s imagination. Carved into a cliff side about 80 kilometres from Paro, at a height of 900 metres, this is one of the most unusual monastery fortresses ever built. Scores of monks toiled for ages to build this, now Bhutan’s most visited monastery, at the site it is believed was where the Guru Rimpoche Padmasambhava landed, astride a tiger, bearing the gift of Buddhism from Tibet. The original structure was built in 1694 but subsequently lost in a massive fire in 1998. The Dzong is painstakingly being rebuilt. It’s about 4 hours of tough walking from Paro to Taktsang Dzong, but entirely worth the effort.

While you’re doing a round of the dzongs, make the trip to the now ruined Drukyul Dzong. This once magnificent structure was mostly destroyed in a 1954 earthquake.

The airport at Paro is 7 kilometres from the town. Taxis may or may not be available outside the airport so it’s a good idea to arrange for a pick-up vehicle. Once you are in the city, navigation is as easy as pie. One major street runs the length of town and it’s a mile long so getting around within town is easily manageable. The weekend bazaar is on this street and if you’re in Paro over a weekend you’ll be able to pick up locally woven garments, silver ornaments and utensils, precious stones, fresh vegetables and fruits.

Getting There

You cannot miss Paro if you’re flying in to Bhutan. It has the only airport in the country. Alternately, one may also enter Bhutan by road and arrive at Phuntsholing. Phuntsholing is 176 kilometres from Thimphu, and the distance between Thimphu and Paro is 65 kilometres. One can do the journey either by bus or taxi. Visas are available on arrival at the Paro airport providing you have the clearance certificate that is issued by the Bhutanese government when a tourist request is forwarded to them.

Accommodation

As in most other cities, the BTCL (Bhutan Tourism Corporation Limited) establishment is one of the best hotels in Paro. The décor is tasteful at the restaurant, the fieriness of the native cuisine is tempered to suit tourist tastes, and the service is warm. There are plenty more hotels in Paro, with facilities and services ranging from good to passable. Make your booking in advance, particularly around the busy time of the spring festival of Paro tsechu; since accommodation quality is not price dependent in the Bhutan tourism system, you might as well ensure that you get the best for your mandatory daily tourist tariff of USD 200.